Three 2026 graduates of the Stony Brook University School of Social Welfare’s Master of Social Work program have been selected for the highly competitive New York State Excelsior Service Fellowship's 2026–2028 cohort.
Cherae Moore-Drew, Hayden Gallagher, and Sarah Nasr were chosen for this prestigious opportunity. The Excelsior Fellowship Program is designed to recruit outstanding graduate and professional school graduates into careers in public service, providing them with valuable leadership and policy experience within New York State government.
While at the SSW, Cherae pursued the Community, Policy and Political Social Action (CPPSA) specialization. Through the Excelsior Fellowship, she earned a placement at the NYS Department of Health's Bureau of Patient Advocacy. This fellowship aligns with her career path since her background is in frontline social work, centering on supporting individuals and families directly impacted by systemic barriers in healthcare and social services.
Her current work reflects a transition from direct practice to systems-level advocacy, focusing on understanding and addressing the institutional and policy factors that shape patient experiences and outcomes.
Hayden Gallagher also specialized in Community, Policy, and Political Social Action during their MSW studies and worked to support environmental justice initiatives across Long Island and promote a more sustainable future. Through the fellowship, Hayden has been placed with the New York State Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation’s Sustainable Operations Unit, where they will continue advancing environmental sustainability efforts across the state park system and contribute to policy and operational initiatives that support conservation and environmental stewardship.
Together, these accomplishments reflect the diverse ways SSW graduates are applying social work values and skills to address complex challenges through public service, policy development, advocacy, and systems change.
